Clive James presents reflections on topical issues ranging from politics to pop culture in this award-winning series of BBC Radio 4's A Point of View. These programmes were first broadcast between 2007 and 2009.
Episodes available:
Indefinitely 
Fri, 25 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Nothing could be worse than eternal youth if it meant denying the next generation room to live, says Clive James. Celebrating the scope for human progress, as each generation gives way to the next, he reflects on the energy his own grandchildren give him – yet he does not envy them.
Fri, 18 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Computerised customer service systems are a modern waste of time says a frustrated Clive James - all he wants is a real person to answer the phone.
Fri, 11 Dec 09
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James reflects on the media coverage of man-made global warming and stresses the need for minds to be open and the need for a fair hearing for all voices - including sceptical ones.
Fri, 4 Dec 09
Duration:
11 mins
Living in a democracy can be trying, says Clive James, until you think of the alternatives. A democracy can hope to avoid some of the abuses that even less perfect systems are guaranteed to generate.
Fri, 27 Nov 09
Duration:
10 mins
It's the spirit in which a game is played which determines whether Clive James likes or loathes a particular sport.
Fri, 20 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Following the exposure of the identity of Belle de Jour, the author of The Diary of a London Call Girl, Clive James reflects on how her identity makes us think of a litany of brilliant courtesans.
Fri, 13 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James celebrates the honouring of Battle of Britain commander Sir Keith Park with a temporary statue on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth – although the achievements of some people stand so tall, he says, a statue in their honour can never match up.
Fri, 6 Nov 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James gives his personal view of the world of drugs and reflects on the seductive allure of illegal narcotics, laying the blame for their attractions at the door of the English romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his trip to Xanadu.
Fri, 30 Oct 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James reflects on the postal workers' dispute and gives his personal view of the modern history of labour relations. At the heart of the postal strike is a reminder that the relationship between workers, managers and machines can be difficult.
Fri, 23 Oct 09
Duration:
11 mins
Scepticism is important in every walk of life, says Clive James, as he criticises extreme reactions to those who are sceptical about man-made global warming.
Fri, 29 May 09
Duration:
11 mins
Despite its drawbacks, democracy is the right system for running a country, says Clive James - it just doesn't stack up as the best way of choosing a professor of poetry.
Fri, 22 May 09
Duration:
10 mins
Democracy is the best hope for achieving justice for women, says Clive James, as he celebrates the election of four women to the Parliament of Kuwait. He also criticises feminists in the West for being slow to support women suffering under tyrannical regimes.
Fri, 15 May 09
Duration:
10 mins
The row over MPs’ expenses is a sign of a healthy democracy, says Clive James, as the public outcry over politicians playing the system gains momentum.
Fri, 8 May 09
Duration:
11 mins
The presence of a Poet Laureate is a good indicator of the British attitude to poetry, says Clive James. The job might be difficult to define but it is nevertheless important, because it is a public acknowledgment that the UK cares about language.
Fri, 1 May 09
Duration:
10 mins
Loft extensions are for ordinary citizens. When the property market gets tough, the wealthy dig down to create the ultimate den, says Clive James – but he thinks it’s a worrying sign that rich people living in the capital are developing a bunker mentality.
Fri, 24 Apr 09
Duration:
11 mins
What does the reaction to Susan Boyle’s performance on a television talent show tell us about the progress of feminism, asks Clive James. Is appearance still important – even in the world of serious singing?
Fri, 17 Apr 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James reflects on what it takes to make – and break – a good reputation in public life. He concludes that the government’s latest euphemism ‘reputational damage’, to describe the fallout concerning Gordon Brown’s special adviser Damian McBride, is fooling no-one.
Fri, 10 Apr 09
Duration:
10 mins
The cane toad was brought to Australia for pest control - since when an army has marched across the continent, multiplying as it goes. But surely its own example questions the logic of trying to wipe out this gamekeeper turned poacher, says Clive James.
Fri, 3 Apr 09
Duration:
10 mins
After years of watching late-night porn in anonymous hotel rooms - for research - its purpose is clear, says Clive James: to keep one's mind off sex while one's partner is absent.
Fri, 27 Mar 09
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James reflects on the downfall of a distinguished Australian judge, who was jailed for perjury after lying about a speeding offence.
Fri, 2 Jan 09
Duration:
11 mins
Getting rich for its own sake will look as stupid as bodybuilding does at the point when the neck gets thicker than the head, says Clive James, as he predicts the end of the era of silly-money.
Fri, 26 Dec 08
Duration:
10 mins
Whatever you believe in when it comes to the birth of Christ, even if you believe in nothing at all, no one can doubt the personal force of Jesus says Clive James, as he reflects on life beyond the grave, Shakespeare’s beliefs and the man and spirit of Jesus Christ.
Fri, 19 Dec 08
Duration:
10 mins
The hardest part of Christmas is not socialising with family, nor hauling coal or peeling potatoes - it's wrapping the presents, says Clive James, as he anticipates with some dread the seasonal tasks awaiting him as he uncovers the deeper meaning of wrapping gifts.
Fri, 12 Dec 08
Duration:
10 mins
Forget proud traditions and cultural exports - a nation's identity is bolstered if Americans know about it. Just ask the Canadians, says Clive James, as he explores the question of national identity and why it really is preferable to see Santa and his elves in Lapland rather than in the New Forest!
Fri, 5 Dec 08
Duration:
11 mins
Are we able to think clearly when surrounded by mess, because chaos is inherent in all our minds - even those of the great writers and thinkers. Clive James reveals why he is glad the chaos of his own office is not featured in a new exhibition called 'Writers Rooms'.
Fri, 28 Nov 08
Duration:
10 mins
As a new film on the notorious Baader Meinhof gang is released, Clive James discusses the glamourisation of terror in the movie industry. He argues that the movie version of history is often now in danger of replacing the real historical event.
Fri, 21 Nov 08
Duration:
10 mins
The odd expletive escapes most people's mouths in times of stress, but when we fall back on swear words just for effect have we really just run out of ideas? Clive James turns his attention to swearing and argues that bad language used constantly is no language at all.
Fri, 14 Nov 08
Duration:
10 mins
Rational choices, reasoned discussions, respect for lawful institutions: that's what Clive James says he wants from his action heroes, arguing that the days of mindless Hollywood action are over. He says a new climate of reason prevails - and it extends well beyond Hollywood.
Fri, 7 Nov 08
Duration:
11 mins
As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office, Clive James examines the significance of the word ‘election’ and its relationship with democracy depending on the country you happen to live in.
Fri, 31 Oct 08
Duration:
11 mins
Forget super-rich baddies who seek to destroy the world with a death ray. Boring! Clive James reflects on how money is losing its cachet, while failing to recycle properly is what leads to accusations of destroying the world.
Fri, 9 May 08
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James explores the world of the political gaffe – past and present. He argues that it isn’t always the elegant speaker who has the competence for office and at the end of the day, he prefers the verbal bumblers.
Fri, 2 May 08
Duration:
10 mins
Why are gifted artists such as Amy Winehouse so hell-bent on destroying their talent - and themselves - asks Clive James, as he explores the concept of talent.
Fri, 25 Apr 08
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James turns his attention to political intervention and Zimbabwe, arguing that Robert Mugabe’s time is up. All the world has to do, he says, is to get him to agree.
Fri, 18 Apr 08
Duration:
10 mins
At a time when Iraqis who have risked their lives for Britain in Basra need a newspaper campaign to fight for their right to move to the UK, Clive James asks why is it radical cleric Abu Qatada apparently can’t be allowed out?
Fri, 11 Apr 08
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James turns his attention to the Royal Mail’s decision to redesign the coinage. The old coins, he says, did nothing except tell you what they were worth - and what’s the point in that!
Mon, 7 Apr 08
Duration:
10 mins
The prospect of mobile phones on planes gets Clive James hot under the collar, but he is overjoyed by the disastrous opening of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 – and tells us why it’s the most fun he’s had since the night the Millennium Dome opened.
Fri, 28 Mar 08
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James ponders David Cameron’s faux-pas of cycling the wrong way up a one way street and pedalling through a red light. He sets Mr Cameron’s wrong-doing in a rather unexpected historical context.
Fri, 21 Mar 08
Duration:
10 mins
A court decision about a man and a grape brings back painful memories of Clive James' own life. He reflects on just how much money is spent on legal cases that common-sense suggests should never have gone to court.
Fri, 14 Mar 08
Duration:
10 mins
Having a private life – an institution once regarded as vital to civilization – is now in danger of collapse, argues Clive James. As amorous emails sent to a lover by an aide to the Mayor of London are published verbatim, Clive asks can it ever be right to help yourself to the private emails, phone calls or text messages of politicians, footballers or your next door neighbour?
Fri, 7 Mar 08
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James reflects on Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan. He delves into the history books to find another warrior prince who found himself in a very similar situation.
Fri, 24 Aug 07
Duration:
10 mins
As he sits on a bench in Central Park, Clive James ponders what makes us happy and relives his first slice of watermelon and considers the wise words of Lawrence of Arabia.
Fri, 17 Aug 07
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James considers the role of the icon – ancient and modern – and focuses on film icons. Who are they? Why do we elevate them to this status? And what is their reaction to the role?
Fri, 10 Aug 07
Duration:
10 mins
The environmental impact of plastic bags, shopping trolleys and overly loud hip hop music - Clive James applies his imagination and comes up with some unusual technological devices to deal with them.
Fri, 3 Aug 07
Duration:
10 mins
Once an 80-a-day chain smoker, today Clive James explains how he, reluctantly, became a non-smoker and now just dreams of smoking.
Fri, 27 Jul 07
Duration:
10 mins
‘JK Rowling Envy’ is a psychological condition suffered by many writers, says Clive James, when confronted with the millions of books sold - and the millions of pounds earned - by the author of Harry Potter.
Fri, 20 Jul 07
Duration:
10 mins
As life is made easier by machines which do our thinking for us, will our intellect suffer, asks Clive James. Reflecting on the conundrum of living in a technologically advanced world, he asks whether it will eventually slow future advancement, as it erodes our brain power to build new technology.
Fri, 13 Jul 07
Duration:
10 mins
Clive James enjoys the wisdom of former Wimbledon tennis champions whose insights as commentators, he says, double as a philosophy for life.
Fri, 6 Jul 07
Duration:
11 mins
Marveling at the sight of children gliding in shoes with wheels fixed into the heels, Clive James reckons the secret of happiness is to think how much fun you would have had at the same age.
Fri, 29 Jun 07
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James gives his personal reaction to Damien Hirst’s diamond-encrusted skull and considers its significance as a work of art. It might be worth £50m but it is never-the-less ‘art for all’. Why? Because it's glittering, hollow and perfectly brainless - so you can talk about it to anyone, just like you can Paris Hilton.
Fri, 22 Jun 07
Duration:
10 mins
There are lots of reasons to be cheerful about the world - many the result of human creativity, says Clive James. It is important to remember not to be miserable, he says, celebrate the good things in life and show others – especially the young – that life really is worth living.
Fri, 6 Apr 07
Duration:
10 mins
The thing with hoaxes is that they work – and that’s a good reason for not liking them, says Clive James. Although he has himself performed his own convincing hoax in the past, as have writers Virginia Woolf and Evelyn Waugh, Clive says there is a streak of self-congratulation in every hoaxer which he finds hard to admire.
Fri, 30 Mar 07
Duration:
11 mins
Do television dramas like the hit American series 24 encourage the use of torture in the fight against terrorism, asks Clive James.
Fri, 23 Mar 07
Duration:
11 mins
Are we in danger of placing an extra burden on the shoulders of outstandingly successful young, black people to be representatives for their race, asks Clive James.
Fri, 16 Mar 07
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James criticises the high spending planned for the London 2012 Olympics. It would be much better, he argues, to think in terms of television coverage and forget all the expensive new buildings.
Fri, 9 Mar 07
Duration:
11 mins
The publicity surrounding the wedding of actress Elizabeth Hurley is the focus of Clive James' attention as he takes a wry look at the world of the paparazzi. Their antics may be justified when their quarry welcomes the attention, but the hounding of others in the public eye is a different matter altogether, he says.
Fri, 2 Mar 07
Duration:
11 mins
As Helen Mirren carries off her Oscar for sounding like the Queen, Clive James comments on the way we speak English today. Regional accents on radio and television reflect and reinforce the breach of the class divide but a new noisy voice is less easy on the ear.
Fri, 23 Feb 07
Duration:
10 mins
From Bruce Lee to Jean-Claude Van Damme to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Clive James reflects on the martial arts movie, and says meaningless violence is still meaningless no matter how you dress it up.
Fri, 16 Feb 07
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James rails against changes to the names of things we rely on - such as railways and the Royal Mail - as a type of costly and annoying ‘fidgeting’. He points to other disturbing developments in what he sees as a growing misuse of language.
Fri, 9 Feb 07
Duration:
10 mins
With a reported growth in cosmetic surgery, Clive James applauds the work of surgeons who repair the ravages of disease and damage to faces from accidents - but what drives people to go under the knife when they don't obviously need to alter their appearance?
Fri, 2 Feb 07
Duration:
11 mins
Clive James reflects on man-made climate change from the standpoint of a sceptic, discussing the power of language to sway opinions when we have neither the time nor the talent to weigh the evidence for ourselves.
The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.
All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.
You need Javascript enabled and Flash version 10 installed to access this audio. Please view our BBC Webwise guide.
Interviews with leading novelists, musicians, film directors, artists and more, from Radio 4's flagship arts show, presented by Mark Lawson, Kirsty Lang and John Wilson.
Mon, 31 Dec 12
28 minutes
Interviews and analysis from the world of cinema. Francine Stock talks to directors, writers and critics about the latest film releases, classics on DVD and movies on television.
19 hours ago
28 minutes
BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
